google i/o

Google Glass: $1,500 for developers, shipping next year

SAN FRANCISCO -- The first Project Glass products -- Google's network-enabled, computerized glasses -- are set to ship to a select group of enthusiasts early next year, co-founder Sergey Brin said today.

"This is not a consumer device," Brin told thousands in an enthusiastically cheering audience at the company's Google I/O show today here. "You have to want to be on the bleeding edge. That's what this is designed for."

The glasses will be available only to Google I/O attendees who are in the United States. The geographic restriction is for … Read more

Google+ arriving on Android, Apple tablets

SAN FRANCISCO -- Google+ has been available only through Web browsers and mobile-phone apps, but Google today announced tablet versions of apps for Android and iOS slates.

The app features the same photo-first look currently in the smartphone app, letting people slide photos left or right to see what's posted in their stream. The tablet version shows photos popular on Google+ in larger versions, said Vic Gundotra, a Google senior vice president speaking at the company's Google I/O show here today.

"We're stylizing the stream so it makes it very easy to scan while still … Read more

Google's Nexus 7 tablet is here: What do you think? (poll)

The Nexus 7 has landed.

It turns out most of the rumors about a $200 7-inch Android 4.1 tablet from Google were true. The slate was unveiled during the Google I/O keynote this morning and like we expected, it's made by Asus and packs a front-facing camera, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. … Read more

Google taking on Evite with Google+ Events

Google is taking on the invitation service Evite with Google+ Events. Not surprisingly, the service is tightly integrated into Google Calendar and into Google+, but users will be able to invite anyone to an event, not just users on the Google platform.

At Google I/O, Vic Gundotra showed off the invitation system, which allows "cinemagraphic" themes based on slightly-animated looping photos to grab the eye.

Events isn't just about invitations, though. During an event, users can turn on "party mode" to automatically upload all photos taken to a page for the event. Participants can … Read more

What could be coming tomorrow in Chrome 20

Google usually celebrates a new stable Chrome release with a blog post touting its new features. But with Chrome 20 today, all we got was a long list of high-paying security bug fixes. That can't be right.

Or at least that can't be all there is in Chrome 20.

If Google sticks to its approach from past years, today's I/O keynote will focus on mobile hardware and Android, while tomorrow will be about the Web and Chrome. But what's in Chrome 20?

Demonstrating the power of Native Client I expect a lot of talk about … Read more

Google ups challenge to iPad, Kindle with debut of $199 Nexus 7

The worst-kept secret in Googleland is now official.

The Nexus 7 tablet was unveiled today at the Google I/O Conference. As previously reported, the device was built by Asus and comes with a 7-inch 1,280-by-800 HD display. According to Google, it's running the Tegra 3 processor and has a front-facing camera for video chatting. Wi-Fi connectivity, as well as Bluetooth and near-field communication support are also included in the device.

Rumors had been swirling for months that Google would offer the tablet. Earlier this morning, the company mistakenly let slip a banner image of the device on … Read more

Android 4.1 gets faster; better notifications; Google Now

SAN FRANCISCO -- Android 4.1, aka Jelly Bean, gets a more responsive user interface, a much more interactive notification system, better voice transcription, overhauled search, and a major new feature called Google Now that tries to anticipate what a person needs to know at any given moment.

Android has exploded in popularity, but the OS takes a lot of heat for allegedly being an Apple iOS copycat. Google is clearly trying to vault over that issue with new features detailed at its at its Google I/O show today here.

Google Now, triggered by swiping from the bottom of … Read more

Female Google execs on how to attract more women to the biz

SAN FRANCISCO -- On the eve of the Google I/O Developers Conference, the company's offices here were abuzz with a familiar refrain: the need for more women in the computer science industry.

The Women Techmakers event featured five women from Google's storied ranks talking about recruitment, leadership, gender bias, and of course, why Google is such an enviable place for women to work.

Susan Wojcicki, the senior vice president of advertising, was the 16th Google employee. When she started, she was told she would have a boss to report to.

"I waited for years," she … Read more

Android activations reach 1 million per day

SAN FRANCISCO -- A total of 1 million Android devices are activated each day, Google announced today at its Google I/O show today.

The number is a big jump from the 400,000 per day the company reported at last year's show in May. In addition, Google said 400 million Android devices have been sold so far.

"Four hundred million is a pretty huge number, but were definitely not slowing down," said Hugo Barra, director of product management at the show's opening keynote. The more customers use Android, the easier it is for Google to … Read more

Google unveils the Nexus Q 'social streaming media player'

Google has unveiled a new media streamer before taking the stage at its I/O conference.

Dubbed the Nexus Q, the orblike device is being called by Google the "first social streaming media player." A page on the Google Play store Web site says that it "streams your favorite entertainment from Google Play and YouTube to the biggest speakers and screen in the house."… Read more